Connect with us:   Subscribe to the paper  |   View the mobile edition  |   Get daily e-mail news  |   Get mobile alerts  |   Share your photos  |   Report news  |   Place an ad  |   Contact us


Authorities link '87 rape cases to inmate

The Post and Courier
Wednesday, April 30, 2008


SUMMERVILLE — Authorities have connected the DNA of a man already behind bars to two unsolved rapes from two decades ago in Dorchester County.

Herman S. Rigby Jr.

Herman S. Rigby Jr.

Herman S. Rigby Jr., 50, a South Carolina prison inmate, is charged with kidnapping and two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to arrest affidavits.

On March 27, 1987, a man kidnapped a woman from the Do-Rite Club on U.S. Highway 78 and committed sexual battery, an affidavit said.

On July 23 of the same year, Rigby's birthday, another woman was abducted from a McDonald's in Summerville and driven to a dirt road in the Jedburg area, where she was sexually assaulted, an affidavit said.

DNA samples from Rigby match evidence collected in both cases, Dorchester County Detective John Garrison said in the affidavits.

Rigby also faces multiple charges from the Summerville Police Department, said First Sgt. Mike Miller of the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office.

Rigby, formerly of Georgetown, has been in a state prison since 2002 on a charge of common law robbery, according to the S.C. Department of Corrections Web site.

Rigby's criminal history dates back to 1983 and includes convictions for grand larceny, entering a bank to steal and criminal domestic violence, his record shows.

Authorities on Tuesday were tight-lipped about the Summerville cases.

They plan to hold a press conference this afternoon at the Dorchester County Detention Center Annex at 212 Deming Way in Summerville.

Reach Nadine Parks at 937-5573 or nparks@postandcourier.com.




Article tools




Latest local stories




Sponsored Links


Notice about comments:
Charleston.net is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Charleston.net does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not charleston.net. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
Full terms and conditions can be read here.

Comments

This article has  10 comment(s)

Posted by charlene68 on April 30, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What a scum bag !!!! a waste to society



Posted by Early on April 30, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Off with his peepee
I bet he's been raped a couple of times since then!



Posted by wpc3iop on April 30, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

More time with "Big Bubba"...good for mr. Rigby!



Posted by RTC on April 30, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It's amazing that they still had the DNA samples around to get the match.



Posted by ColdBeer on April 30, 2008 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Can someone please explain to me why this man should be kept alive? He has nothing positive to contribute and, obvisouly, will do nothing but harm given another chance.



Posted by SomeTruthPlease on April 30, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

ColdBeer...I'm an advocate of the death penalty, but what fits your criteria for an executable offense? I'd advocate one of the women putting a bullet in him, but that is ME. You're right..he has nothing to contribute, but I don't see that this individual will probably even be given another chance.



Posted by Satanssybil2007 on April 30, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

isnt there a statue of limitations on rape? I sure would hate to see this guy get out of these charges b/c of a technicality with the hard evidence to convict!



Posted by ColdBeer on April 30, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

SomeTruthPlease, I think the death penalty should be used in any crime committed with a deadly weapon (I.E. armed robbery), any murder, any child molestation (even if sanctioned by the church), any rape or in any attempt at those crimes. I could probably throw a few more in if I thought about it, but mainly.. the "big", violent crimes.

In clear cut, no doubt about it, cases, there needs to be a fast track to get rid of the decades of appeals.



Posted by SomeTruthPlease on April 30, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

No limitation for any criminal prosecution other than bad checks. That is the rule in SC...yes, the DNA will result in prosecution.



Posted by lexylady on April 30, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What a pleasant looking PUKE!!!




(Requires free registration.)

Username:
Password: (Forgotten your password?)

Comment:

Search Charleston.Net Archives for Latest News






Charleston.Net Customer Care | Subscribe to Paper, Register for email news updates, manage your online account, place a classified ad, or contact us




Charleston.net logo

Copyright © 1997 - 2008 the Evening Post Publishing Co.

Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of service, Privacy policy and our Parental consent form. (Updated 2/9/2007)